North and South Korean troops exchanged fire yesterday across their tense border, Seoul’s military said, an incident that heightened tensions before next month’s G20 summit of world leaders in Seoul.
Northern troops fired two bullets at a frontline guard post at 5:26pm and South Korean soldiers immediately fired three shots in return from a machine gun, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
“There were no more shots afterwards. We are now closely watching their movements,” a spokesman said, adding it had strengthened defense readiness.
He said no South Koreans were hurt in the incident near the Demilitarized Zone dividing the peninsula.
Exchanges of fire break out occasionally near the heavily fortified and closely guarded frontier. However, yesterday’s shooting, in the Hwacheon area about 90km northeast of Seoul, came at a sensitive time as the South prepares to host the G20 summit on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.
South Korea’s military was put on top security alert this week to guard the meeting against any disruptions by North Korea or international terrorists. Leaders attending include US President Barack Obama and the summit is being considered the nation’s biggest appearance on the world stage since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
The shooting incident came hours after the North vowed to retaliate against the South for rejecting its proposal for fresh military talks.
The JCS said its forces are prepared for quick mobilization if necessary.
“It hasn’t been confirmed whether the North Korean military took an aimed shot,” an official said.
The JCS spokesman said the US-led United Nations Command monitoring the armistice would send investigators today.
However, the South said a reunion program for families separated since the war would start today as scheduled at the North’s Mount Kumgang resort.
Earlier yesterday the North said relations would face a “catastrophic impact” if South Korea persisted in rejecting military dialogue aimed at easing tensions on the peninsula.
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